LARNED — A 43-year-old patient who walked away from Larned State Hospital Monday night is back in custody in Garden City.
Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King said that Isaac Nathaniel Watts, 43, escaped from the ATC (Adult Treatment Center) South Crisis Unit at LSH at approximately 9 p.m. Monday. He was being held on a court-ordered Care and Treatment Order through Pawnee County and a hold order from Grant County for mental evaluation. He had been arrested in Grant County on kidnapping and attempted second-degree murder charges in connection with a domestic situation on Nov. 29, 2021.
King said he learned about the walkaway from a county farmer’s alert that came in at about 11:30 p.m.
A report from LSH officials was received at PCSO at approximately 11:35 p.m. and an investigation was launched immediately.
“Through our investigation, we learned that he had heard about an unlocked door from another patient. He had time to make some phone calls and have a ride waiting for him when he walked out,” King said. An LSH video showed Watts leaving the unit wearing multiple layers of clothing and a state-supplied jean jacket.
The PCSO was assisted by the LSH Special Investigator.
“I have been in constant contact with the superintendent and leadership team at Larned and am monitoring the progress of the situation each moment,” Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard said early Tuesday afternoon. “We are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure Mr. Watts is detained without delay or incident.”
A female accomplice from Ulysses apparently drove Watts to Garden City, where they checked into the Hampton Inn. “About the time we were being notified, he and the woman were checking into the motel,” King said.
While in communication with the PCSO, Garden City law enforcement apprehended Watts and the female outside the motel. They were booked into Finney County Jail.
The Garden City Police Department reports it was notified at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday that Watts escaped from LSH and was possibly in the city. Officers located him at the Hampton Inn with a female inside the room. The Garden City/Finney County SWAT team responded and Watts was later taken into custody without further incident, GCPD reported.
Watts’s escape violates the hold order, making the escape a criminal act, King said. Formal charges are being considered by the Pawnee County Attorney, but are undetermined at this time. More information will be provided as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, KDADS announced Tuesday that it will be working with the Correctional Leaders Association to locate an independent firm to conduct a comprehensive security review at LSH. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly accelerated her request for the review upon learning of Watts’s Monday escape.
This story was modified on Jan. 5, 2022, to correct the Grant County charges against the defendant.
